Zarixia Zavala-Ruiz Email & Phone Number

Chevy Chase, Maryland, Us

• Spearhead the Janelia Science and Training Department, driving cross-functional collaboration and cultivating strategic networks to amplify the team's effectiveness and broaden the impact of its scientific initiatives.• Lead and mentor team members who oversee and manage programs that promote intellectual interactions, foster collaboration, and cultivate a culture of professional development.• Supervise and develop team members by providing leadership, strategic support, motivation and mentoring to advance their growth and development. Encourage creativity and a growth mindset in the design and execution of initiatives.• Partner with Janelia’s Senior Scientific Leadership to implement new initiatives and programs.

Chevy Chase, Maryland, Us

• Guided strategy and implementation for innovative collaboration projects, establishing Janelia as a hub for scientific research.• Negotiated interinstitutional agreements to enhance collaborations between Janelia and external scientists.• Managed recruitment and mentoring practices to build internal capacity for early-career group leaders.

Chevy Chase, Maryland, Us

• Championed the Janelia Science Collaboratorium, which provides a meeting ground for investigators worldwide to conduct research, interact with Janelia scientists, and collectively catalyze discoveries in emerging fields.• Brainstormed audacious DEI goals that could make significant impact in the organization, as member of a special committee assembled by the HHMI Office of the President.• Boosted transparency, equitability, and consistency in management of Janelia group leaders by mobilizing development of policies that address research structure, review process, and phase-out appointments. • Spearheaded the Group Leader Induction Initiative and Mentoring Circles. These efforts identified ways to better serve group leaders and nurtured exchanges on mentoring, publication strategy, and collaboration.• Successfully advanced a proposal to establish an Ombuds Office and hire a professional Ombudsperson, who is already having a positive impact in fostering a safe and respectful environment for Janelia’s diverse community.• Executed operational process improvements that smoothed transitions for onboarding and offboarding staff.

Chevy Chase, Maryland, Us

• Created a collaboration program that enabled resident scientists to connect remotely with external experts.• Developed and executed a lab head management system that gives key stakeholders the tools to view and track information about internal scientist appointments, reappointments, and review outcomes.• Revamped onboarding for visiting scientists, providing information to help them integrate into the community.

Chevy Chase, Maryland, Us

• Designed and launched the Janela Graduate Research Fellowship, enabling U.S. and international graduate students from a wide variety of disciplines to perform their thesis research in Janelia laboratories.• Pioneered a platform that makes review and tracking of visiting scientists and projects efficient and transparent.

• Motivate and empower influential leaders and clients from a broad diversity of backgrounds to maximize their growth potential, exceed their personal development goals, and strengthen their businesses.• Facilitate self-discovery of strengths and areas of opportunity for clients by supporting development of leadership skills based on their individual personalities and professional goals. • Guide and support organizations in navigating challenges, transforming internal culture, and building teams.

San Juan, Pr, Pr

• Led a research lab focused on protein biochemistry and cancer biology that produced several publications.• Successfully competed for and secured external funding for several research projects and collaborations.• Designed and taught keystone courses in biochemistry and biophysics for graduate students.• Mentored 7 undergraduate and 4 graduate students in core research techniques and career development.

• Leveraged a consultative communications approach on scientific efforts such as selection of protein targets.• Identified recommendations to represent the interests of scientific founders on the Board of Directors.• Cultivated strong relationships with key health business leaders to determine the services that best fit their specific goals and requirements.

Pr, Us

• Leveraged a consultative communications approach on scientific efforts such as selection of protein targets.• Identified recommendations to represent the interests of scientific founders on the Board of Directors.• Cultivated strong relationships with key health business leaders to determine the services that best fit their specific goals and requirements.

Executive Certificate, Leadership Coaching

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biological Chemistry

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Chemistry